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A tunable far-infrared difference frequency spectrometer has been used to examine the fully protonated form of malonaldehyde in the region near the ground-state tunneling frequency (21 cm-1). An extremely dense and complex spectrum is observed in which the strongest features have been assigned as pure rotational lines involving high values of J and K-1. These transitions, which occur within the individual rotational manifolds of the two halves of the ground-state tunneling doublet, have been analyzed simultaneously with existing microwave data for this species. The value of the ground-state tunneling splitting, determinable indirectly from analysis of vibration–rotation interactions, is 21.584 76(17) cm-1, and is in close agreement with that similarly obtained in previous microwave work. A thorough treatment of the centrifugal distortion in this system significantly extends the range of rotational states whose energies may be reliably calculated, and should therefore be valuable in the future direct measurement of the tunneling frequency. Aspects of the far-infrared spectrum of this species, and of the indirect method of determining the tunneling splitting, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite intensive research efforts peritonitis leading to subsequent sepsis remains associated with a high mortality. The initial effector cells are the locally residing cells of the peritoneum, such as mesothelial cells, mast cells, macrophages and lymphocytes. Through the secretion of chemokines, an influx of neutrophils initially takes place followed by monocytes. The latter can differentiate into inflammatory macrophages. The non-directed activity of neutrophilic granulocytes is limited by the induction of apoptotic programs. Through the breaching of cytokines, bacteria and microbial products into the circulation, a systemic reaction in the sense of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis arises. This is viewed as a concomitant derailing of inflammatory as well as anti-inflammatory responses, which leads to extensive apoptosis of lymphocytes. The presentation of apoptotic cells leads to a strong immunosuppression. Due to the coexistence of hyperinflammation and immunosuppression, exact knowledge of the current immune status of the patient is a prerequisite in the development of immunotherapies for the treatment of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a series of shake-table tests on a half-scale, four-storey building with reinforced concrete and unreinforced masonry walls. Due to the lack of reference tests, the seismic behaviour of such mixed structures is poorly understood. The test unit was subjected to several runs of increasing intensity yielding performance states between minor damage and near collapse. Before the test, the expected peak table accelerations leading to different limit states were estimated using the capacity spectrum method, and the predicted values corresponded rather well to actual sustained accelerations. Next to these analyses, the paper describes the test unit, instrumentation and input motion, and comments on the response of the mixed structure in terms of damage evolution and global response quantities, such as force-displacement response and drift and acceleration profiles. The raw and post-processed data sets are made publically available, and all relevant information with regard to data organisation and post-processing procedure is described in an appendix to this paper. The test serves therefore as a benchmark for the validation of numerical models of such mixed structures. The project aims at providing a foundation for the development of seismic design and assessment methods of mixed structures, which are currently not covered by structural codes, including Eurocode 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Investigating the use of the EORTC bladder cancer (BC) modules by evaluating: (a) study contexts/designs; (b) languages/countries in which the modules were administered; (c) their acceptance by patients/investigators; and (d) their psychometric properties. Methods: A systematic review was performed with studies from 1998 until 20/10/2021 in five databases. Articles/conference abstracts using the EORTC-QLQBLM30 (muscle invasive BC) and the EORTC-QLQNMIBC24 (previously referred to as QLQ-BLS24; non-muscle invasive BC) were included. Two authors independently screened titles/abstracts/full-texts and performed data extraction. Results: A total of 76 eligible studies were identified. Most studies included the BLM30 (n = 53), were in a urological surgery context (n = 41) and were cross-sectional (n = 35) or prospective (n = 30) in design. The BC modules were administered in 14 languages across 19 countries. Missing data were low-moderate for all non-sex related questions (< 1% to 15%). Sex-related questions had higher rates of missing data (ranging from 6.9% to 84%). Most investigators did not use all scales of the questionnaires. One validation study for the original BLS24 led to the development of the NMIBC24, which adopted a new scale structure for which good structural validity was confirmed (n = 3). Good reliability and validity was shown for the NMIBC24 module, except for malaise and bloating/flatulence scales. Psychometric evidence for BLM30 is lacking. Conclusion: These results provide insight into how the EORTC BC quality of life modules could be further improved. Current work is ongoing to update the modules and to determine if the two modules can be combined into a single questionnaire that works well in both the NMIBC and MIBC settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research showed that the in-plane horizontal displacement capacity of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls depends on numerous factors that are not yet captured by current empirical drift capacity models; e.g., axial stress, shear span, geometry of the walls and the material used. In order to improve the performance-based assessment of URM wall buildings, future research should aim at developing numerical and mechanical models that link the global force-displacement response of URM walls to local deformation measures such as strains. This paper addresses the behaviour of modern clay brick masonry and makes first contributions to such an endeavour by the evaluation of experimental results: first, two sets of limit states are proposed that link local damage limit states to characteristic points of the global force-displacement response of the URM wall. The two sets define limit states for walls developing a shear or a flexural mechanism respectively. Second, local deformation measures deemed suitable for the characterisation of these limit states are evaluated from optical measurement data of quasi-static cyclic wall tests. These include strains, compression zone depth and the ratio of shear to flexural deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Oral challenges are the gold standard in food allergy diagnostic, but time-consuming. Aim of the study was to investigate the role of peanut- and hazelnut-component-specific Ig E in the diagnostics of peanut and hazelnut allergy and to identify cutoff levels to make some challenges superfluous. Methods In a prospective and multicenter study, children with suspected peanut or hazelnut allergy underwent oral challenges. Specific Ig E to peanut, hazelnut, and their components ( Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3, and Ara h 8, Cor a 1, Cor a 8, Cor a 9, and Cor a 14) were determined by Immuno CAP- FEIA. Results A total of 210 children were challenged orally with peanut and 143 with hazelnut. 43% of the patients had a positive peanut and 31% a positive hazelnut challenge. With an area under the curve of 0.92 and 0.89, respectively, Ara h 2 and Cor a 14-specific Ig E discriminated between allergic and tolerant children better than peanut- or hazelnut-specific Ig E. For the first time, probability curves for peanut and hazelnut components have been calculated. A 90% probability for a positive peanut or hazelnut challenge was estimated for Ara h 2-specific Ig E at 14.4 kU/l and for Cor a 14-specific Ig E at 47.8 kU/l. A 95% probability could only be estimated for Ara h 2 at 42.2 kU/l. Conclusions Ara h 2- and Cor a 14-specific Ig E are useful to estimate the probability for a positive challenge outcome in the diagnostic work-up of peanut or hazelnut allergy making some food challenges superfluous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elicitors of anaphylactic reactions are any sources of protein with allergenic capacity. However, not all allergic reactions end up in the most severe form of anaphylaxis. Augmenting factors may explain why certain conditions lead to anaphylaxis. Augmenting factors may exhibit three effects: lowering the threshold, increasing the severity, and reversing acquired clinical tolerance. Common augmenting factors are physical exercise, menstruation, NSAIDs, alcohol, body temperature, acute infections, and antacids. Therapeutic options may address causative, preventive, pragmatic, or symptomatic considerations: avoid the eliciting food, take an antihistamine before any situation with a possible risk of augmentation, separate food and sport (at least for 2 h), and carry an adrenaline autoinjector at all times. Individual patterns include summation effects and specific patterns. In conclusion, in the case of a suggestive history but a negative oral challenge, one should consider the possible involvement of augmenting factors; after anaphylactic reactions, always ask for possible augmentation and other risk factors during the recent past; if augmentation is suspected, oral food challenges should be performed in combination with augmenting factors; and in the future, standardized challenge protocols including augmenting factors should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When testing multi-storey structures, most testing facilities require the testing of a reduced-scale model. A literature review on tests of scaled masonry structural components revealed that scaling of masonry was rather challenging and often significant differences in stiffness, strength and failure mechanisms between the different sized masonry were reported. This paper addresses the scaling of hollow clay brick masonry with fully mortared head and bed joints. We investigate different choices of scaling brick units and mortar joints. Based on the results of an extensive test programme including standard material tests and quasi-static cyclic tests on masonry walls subjected to horizontal and axial loads, we formulate recommendations for the production of a half-scale model of unreinforced masonry structures. The experimental results show a good match between full-scale and half-scale masonry. We discuss the differences in material properties that remained and compare the force-displacement hystereses obtained for the wall tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elicitors of anaphylactic reactions are any sources of protein with allergenic capacity. However, not all allergic reactions end up in the most severe form of anaphylaxis. Augmenting factors may explain why certain conditions lead to anaphylaxis. Augmenting factors may exhibit three effects: lowering the threshold, increasing the severity, and reversing acquired clinical tolerance. Common augmenting factors are physical exercise, menstruation, NSAIDs, alcohol, body temperature, acute infections, and antacids. Therapeutic options may address causative, preventive, pragmatic, or symptomatic considerations: avoid the eliciting food, take an antihistamine before any situation with a possible risk of augmentation, separate food and sport (at least for 2 h), and carry an adrenaline autoinjector at all times. Individual patterns include summation effects and specific patterns. In conclusion, in the case of a suggestive history but a negative oral challenge, one should consider the possible involvement of augmenting factors; after anaphylactic reactions, always ask for possible augmentation and other risk factors during the recent past; if augmentation is suspected, oral food challenges should be performed in combination with augmenting factors; and in the future, standardized challenge protocols including augmenting factors should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid increase in the volume of data that enterprises are producing, enterprises are adopting large-scale data processing platforms such as HadoopA to store, manage, and run deep analytics to gain actionable insights from their Bbig data.[ At IBM Research - Almaden, we have been helping enterprise customers build solutions exploiting data-intensive analytics. Our deep experience with actual users has led to an extensive understanding of the platform requirements needed to support these solutions, and our goal is to provide a powerful analytics platform, which we call eXtreme Analytics Platform (XAP), that can be used to create solutions for customer problems that have not been economically feasible to solve until now. XAP provides Jaql [i.e., JavaScriptA Object Notation (JSON) query language, a scripting language to specify data flows, tools, and techniques to optimize the runtime execution of these flows], an improved task scheduler, connectors to data warehouses, and libraries for advanced analytics. Many of these technologies have been transferred to the IBM InfoSphere BigInsightsi product. In this paper, we describe the overall design principles and technology of XAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Anaphylaxis is a severe potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 0.5-2.0%. The prevalence and incidence of anaphylactic reactions in Germany are unknown. We therefore assessed anaphylactic patients seen by emergency physicians in the Berlin area covering 4 million people. Methods A standardised questionnaire was filled from 2008 to 2010 by the emergency physicians. Results A total of 333 cases of anaphylaxis were reported. 295 of these met the inclusion criteria for severity and were analysed. 13.9% ( n = 41) were reactions with respiratory symptoms, 25.4% ( n = 75) with cardiovascular, and in 60.7% ( n = 179) of cases, respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms were reported. Two reactions were fatal. The most common elicitors were food products (32.2%), drugs (29.2%) and insect venom (19.3%). The most frequently given drugs were corticoids and antihistamines, but not adrenaline. For 2008, the calculated incidence was 4.5 per 100 000. Conclusions Our data show that food products are frequent elicitors of severe allergic reactions in the general population including children and adults. It unravels a strong underuse of adrenaline by emergency physicians, not reflecting treatment protocols according to the current guidelines. As data obtained from allergists reveal a different rank order of elicitors, this study suggests that food-allergic adult patients may present a risk population and should receive more attention by allergists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to show the feasibility of measuring hydrogen effusion in austenitic stainless steel (1.4301) using neutron radiography at the facility ANTARES of the research reactor FRM II of the Technische Universität München. This method is appropriate to measure in-situ hydrogen effusion for hydrogen concentrations as small as 20ppmH. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range from room temperature up to 533K. The measurement principle is based on the parallel comparison of electrochemically hydrogen charged specimen with hydrogen-free reference specimen at the same temperature. This allows the determination of the hydrogen concentration in the specimens as a function of time and temperature. Separate hot carrier gas extraction experiments using the same temperature–time profiles as the radiography experiments have been used to calibrate the grey values of the neutron transmission images into hydrogen concentrations. It can be stated that the hydrogen effusion correlates with the specimen temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of the present study is to show the feasibility of examining hydrogen desorption in technical iron samples using neutron radiography at the ANTARES facility of the FRM II research reactor, Technische Universität München. It has been shown that this method is appropriate for in situ determination of hydrogen desorption for concentrations as low as 20 ppm. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range from room temperature up to 260 °C. Measurement was based on direct comparison between electrochemically hydrogen-loaded iron samples and hydrogen-free reference samples at the same temperature. This enables the determination of hydrogen concentration as a function of time and temperature. Ex situ carrier gas hot extraction experiments using the same temperature-time profiles as the neutron radiography experiments have been used to calibrate the greyscale values of the radiographs to defined hydrogen concentrations. It can be stated that hydrogen desorption correlates with sample temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Following unilateral chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, histochemical and gene expression changes were examined in the rat nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a region critical to affective-motivational regulation. Rats were categorised as having Pain alone (45%) or Pain and Disability (30%), on the basis of either unaltered or decreased dominance behaviour in the resident-intruder paradigm, respectively. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression was significantly increased bilaterally, throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the NAcc in Pain alone animals. Increased TH likely reflects increased dopamine levels in the Pain alone group, which may modulate dopamine receptor subtype 2 (D2) receptor expression. Stereological analyses of D2 receptor immunoreactive (D2-IR) cells revealed lateralised changes which correlated significantly with dominance behaviour. In the contralateral NAcc, D2-IR negatively correlated with post-CCI dominance behaviour (i.e. Pain alone animals have decreased D2-IR), whereas ipsilaterally there was a positive correlation between D2-IR and post-CCI dominance behaviour (i.e. Pain and Disability animals have decreased D2-IR). Western blots for D2 protein expression confirmed these correlations. Additionally, D2 mRNA expression within the NAcc showed lateralised and group specific changes. In the ipsilateral NAcc D2 mRNA was increased in Pain alone animals. It is hypothesised that increased D2 mRNA in the ipsilateral NAcc of Pain alone animals may be a protective mechanism, maintaining D2-IR despite increased dopamine, which may otherwise induce receptor desensitisation. D2 mRNA is not altered in the ipsilateral NAcc of Pain and Disability animals, therefore loss of D2-IR is likely, albeit by an alternate mechanism. In summary, unilateral CCI in rats induces specific and lateralised adaptations in the dopaminergic circuitry of the NAcc. These distinct neural adaptations correlate with changes in social behaviour, and likely underlie some of the affective-motivational state changes associated with neuropathic pain in a subset of rats (i.e. Pain and Disability group). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, a numerical model for the pushover analysis of in-plane loaded unreinforced masonry walls is presented. For the analysis of the walls, which consist of vertical piers connected by horizontal masonry spandrels, an equivalent frame model is adopted. The analysis approach consists of two steps: In Step I, ultimate bending moment-shear force strength domains of the masonry spandrels are derived by means of a heterogeneous upper bound FE limit analysis and the results are stored in a database. Assessing the capacity of the spandrels correctly is crucial for the ultimate resistance of masonry walls that are loaded in-plane. Heterogeneous limit analysis is particularly suitable for computing the failure load of unreinforced masonry members since it permits a distinct modelling of bricks and mortar joints. Appropriate static and kinematic boundary conditions are imposed to account for the complex interaction of internal forces and deformed shapes of the spandrel beams at failure. In Step II, a frame model of the masonry wall is assembled. In this frame model the spandrels are modelled as elastic Timoshenko beams. At each analysis step it is checked that the internal forces of these coupling beams are smaller than the failure loads stored in the database created in Step I. If the capacity is exceeded, flexural hinges are introduced at both ends of the coupling beam. The resistance of the element is set to zero when a limit chord rotation is exceeded. The piers are modelled in a similar manner. The shear force and bending moment capacity of the piers are, however, simply estimated according to the Italian Design Code. Pushover analysis results compare favourably with computationally expensive 2D nonlinear heterogeneous FE analyses, but also confirm that the ultimate lateral resistance of masonry walls is very sensitive to the assumed spandrel strength if an equivalent frame model is used. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Food allergy is an increasing problem in Europe and elsewhere and severe reactions to food are also becoming more common. As food allergy is usually associated with other forms of allergic sensitisation it is likely that many risk factors are common to all forms of allergy. However the potential severity of the disease and the specific public heath measures required for food allergy make it important to identify the specific risk factors for this condition. Food allergy is unusual in that it often manifests itself very early in life and commonly remits with the development of tolerance. Hypotheses that explain the distribution of food allergy include specific genetic polymorphisms, the nature of the allergens involved and the unique exposure to large quantities of allergen through the gut. Progress has been made in developing more specific and testable hypotheses but the evidence for any of these is still only preliminary. Further collaborative research is required to develop an appropriate public health response to this growing problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is debated whether chronic hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular incidents during anaesthesia. We studied all elective surgical operations performed in adults under general or regional anaesthesia between 2000 and 2004, in 24 hospitals collecting computerised clinical data on all anaesthetics since 1996. The focus was on cardiovascular incidents, though other anaesthesia-related incidents were also evaluated. Among 124 939 interventions, 27 881 (22%) were performed in hypertensive patients. At least one cardiovascular incident occurred in 7549 interventions (6% (95% CI 5.9–6.2%)). The average adjusted odds ratio of cardiovascular risk for chronic hypertension was 1.38 (95% CI 1.27–1.49). However, across hospitals, adjusted odd ratios varied from 0.41 up to 2.25. Hypertension did not increase the risk of other incidents. Hypertensive patients are still at risk of intra-operative cardiovascular incidents, while risk heterogeneity across hospitals, despite taking account of casemix and hospital characteristics, suggests variations in anaesthetic practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U-shaped or channel-shaped walls are frequently used as lateral strength providing members in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings since their form does not only provide strength and stiffness in any horizontal direction but is also well suited to accommodate elevator shafts or staircases. Despite this popularity, experimental results on the seismic behavior of U-shaped walls are scarce. For this reason a research program with the objective to provide additional experimental evidence for such walls under seismic loading was developed. It included quasi-static cyclic testing of two U-shaped walls at the structural engineering laboratories of the ETH Zurich. The walls were built at half-scale and designed for high ductility. The main difference between the two walls was their wall thickness. The project was chiefly focusing on the bending behavior in different directions and therefore the walls were subjected to a bi-directional loading regime. This article discusses the design of the test units, the test setup and the test predictions. Finally the main results are summarized in terms of failure mechanisms and force-displacement hystereses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary prevention strategies of allergy so far have been aimed to fight allergy causes, by avoiding risk factors and inhibiting their mechanisms of action. The results of trials testing food or airborne allergen avoidance as a prevention strategy were, however, rather disappointing. A reverse approach for primary prevention of allergies aims to facilitate exposure to protecting factors which promote the induction of immunologic tolerance against innocuous antigens. These factors are associated with farming environment and a ‘traditional lifestyle’, but identification of these factors is quite difficult. Major candidates include food-borne microbes, helminths or their components, which are able to stimulate mucosal immunity, particularly in the gut. Similarly, new preventive and therapeutic strategies are being tested to induce specific food-allergen oral tolerance through the ingestion of progressively increasing doses of the offending food. This shifting of allergy prevention research from avoidance to tolerance induction will hopefully allow us to reverse the epidemic trend of allergy diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although core structures are often used in reinforced concrete buildings as members providing lateral strength and stiffness, experimental and numerical studies on their inelastic behavior are scarce. In an experimental program recently completed at the ETH Zurich, two U-shaped walls were subjected to a bi-directional quasi-static cyclic loading regime. In this article, inelastic wide-column models for these two test units are developed. The wide-column analogy was chosen because it combines the merits of representing the U-shaped wall as a three-dimensional structure with inelastic properties while still being relatively simple and easy to set up when compared to shell or solid element models. It is therefore a tool which is not only available to researchers but also to design engineers. The article commences with the analysis of wide-column models that have been built according to recommendations found in the literature. Since these recommendations had been derived from analyzes of elastic systems, they are then revisited in a sensitivity study in which the effects of different modeling assumptions on the inelastic behavior of wide-column models are investigated. Finally, comparing the numerical results with the experimental evidence from the tests, the article concludes with practical recommendations for setting up wide-column models of U-shaped walls subjected to large inelastic deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address a lack of information on topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva introduced to watercourses, the microhabitat use of this non-native cyprinid and co-existing native species was assessed in a small stream located in southern England. Overall, microhabitat use was size-structured and significant associations were observed between topmouth gudgeon and native species, including brown trout Salmo trutta, chub Leuciscus cephalus, European bullhead Cottus gobio and stone loach Barbatula barbatula. Significant associations with environmental variables, however, were more frequent in native species than in topmouth gudgeon. Topmouth gudgeon demonstrated few habitat preferences, which were weak and limited to small specimens, emphasizing the species broad, plastic breadth of microhabitat use. This is expected to facilitate the species’ successful invasion of novel aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although controlled oral food challenges are considered to be the gold-standard in the diagnosis of food related symptoms, especially if performed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) manner, there are still many unanswered questions and newer aspects, which may explain some pitfalls encountered during oral food challenges. For stopping an oral food challenge and declaring a challenge as positive or negative, symptoms should be objective and/or repetitive. The time interval between administering the food and observing the clinical reaction is an ambivalent factor. Possible reasons for false negative assessments include inadvertent drug use during oral challenges, and the fact that a short-term specific oral tolerance induction (SOTI) may be induced as increasing amounts of the offended food are administered during a titrated oral food challenge. Possible reasons for false positive assessments are the difficulty to maintain an appropriate strict diet throughout the oral challenge procedure, and that the elimination diet implemented before the oral food challenge in children with atopic eczema and suspected food related symptoms may itself be responsible for immediate type clinical symptoms, which had not been reported by the parents before. Finally augmentation factors are among the most plausible explanations for the inadequate reproducibility of an oral food challenge. Although a 100% standardization of the challenge procedure does not seem realistic, efforts should be made to improve the methodology used so far. On the contrary, the possible relation of DBPCFC and SOTI may offer potential advantages for future therapeutic approaches of food allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately two-thirds of egg-allergic infants become tolerant within the first 5 years of life. Objective: We sought (1) to compare the recognition of sequential (linear) and conformational binding sites of ovomucoid, ovalbumin and ovotransferrin, by IgE antibodies of children with persistent and transient egg allergy, (2) to identify immunodominant IgE-and IgG-binding epitopes of ovomucoid, and (3) to compare epitope-specificity of IgE antibodies between patients with differing natural histories of egg allergy. Methods: Using immunodot-blots or ImmunoCAPs, IgE-antibodies against conformational (native) and sequential (reduced and alkylated) egg proteins were determined at the time of clinical reactivity in patients who retained their allergy and in those who developed clinical tolerance. IgE- and IgG-binding epitopes were mapped for ovomucoid using overlapping decapeptides on SPOTs membranes. Recognition of the major IgE-binding epitopes were compared between patients with differing natural histories of egg allergy. Results: The patients with long-lasting egg allergy had a higher concentrations of IgE antibodies against sequential and native ovomucoid and ovalbumin than the children who subsequently gained tolerance ( P < 0.01). Four major IgE-binding epitopes were identified in ovomucoid at amino acid 1–10, 9–20, 47–56, and 113–124. IgE antibodies of all seven patients with persistent egg allergy recognized these epitopes whereas none of the 11 children who outgrew their egg allergy did so. Conclusions: Patients with persistent egg allergy develop IgE antibodies against more sequential and conformational epitopes of ovomucoid and ovalbumin. The presence of serum IgE antibodies to specific sequential epitopes of ovomucoid may be used as a screening instrument for persistent egg allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive and efficient support for XML data management is a rapidly increasing requirement for database systems. To address this requirement, DB2 Universal Database™ (UDB) now combines relational data management with native XML support. This makes DB2® a truly hybrid database management system with first-class support for both XML and relational data processing as well as the integration of the two. This paper presents the overall architecture and design aspects of native XML support in DB2 UDB and its integration with the relational data-flow engine. We describe the new XML components in DB2 UDB and show how XML processing leverages much of the infrastructure which is used for relational data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its first introduction to English waters in the mid 1980s, sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus has spread widely and it is shown in the present study that this non-native cyprinid is a new host for Neoergasilus japonicus. This copepod parasite from South East Asia has a limited host range and distribution in the U.K. Rapid dispersal of sunbleak in the U.K. raises concerns for further dispersal of this introduced parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the diagnostic work-up of suspected food allergy includes skin prick tests, the measurement of food specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), and the atopy patch test, and double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges. However, all of these methods, even double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC), may sometimes be misleading. This overview describes several pitfalls for standard diagnostic methods such as problems with irritative skin reactions mimicking IgE-mediated symptoms, the problem of non-IgE-mediated reactions, pitfalls arising from the way foods are prepared or processed, effects of the route of exposure, the role of augmentation factors lowering the threshold value for clinical reactions, the noncomparability of specific IgE decision points, the influence of the timing of diagnostic measures. In addition, the problem of alternative diagnostic measures is discussed. In conclusion, there are several pitfalls in the diagnostic work-up of food allergy, which may be misleading for the physician. Properly performed controlled oral food challenges still represent the gold standard for implementing specific diets in food allergic individuals in order to avoid both unjustified diets, which may lead to severe impairments in growth and development, and to avoid unnecessary symptoms if an underlying food allergy is not correctly identified as a cause for the symptoms of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by the widespread presence of Lewy bodies (LBs) in the brain, α-Synuclein, the main component of LBs, is expressed as two main isoforms (112 and 140), but little is known about their differential expression in the brain. We compared α-synuclein 112 and α-synuclein 140 expression levels in the prefrontal cortices of six DLB patients, eight Alzheimer disease (AD) patients, and six control subjects. Relative α-synuclein 112 and α-synuclein 140 expression levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction with competimer technology using a LightCycler System. Whereas total α-synuclein levels were just marginally elevated in DLB in comparison with the other groups, α-synuclein 112 was seen to be markedly increased in DLB compared with AD cases and controls. In contrast, α-synuclein 140 levels were significantly diminished in both neurodegenerative disorders in comparison with controls. These results show differential overexpression of α-synuclein 112 in DLB, a finding that could be of importance in DLB pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic studies indicate that chromosome 7q is likely to contain an autism susceptibility locus (AUTS1). We have followed a positional candidate gene approach to identify relevant gene(s) and report here the analysis of reelin (RELN), a gene located under our peak of linkage. Screening RELN for DNA changes identified novel missense variants absent in a large control group; however, the low frequency of these mutations does not explain the relatively strong linkage results on 7q. Furthermore, analysis of a previously reported triplet repeat polymorphism and intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms, using the transmission disequilibrium test, provided no evidence for association with autism in IMGSAC and German singleton families. The analysis of RELN suggests that it probably does not play a major role in autism aetiology, although further analysis of several missense mutations is warranted in additional affected individuals.Molecular Psychiatry (2003) 8, 885-892. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001310 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundCow's milk (CM) is one of the leading causes of food allergy in children. However, approximately 85% of milk-allergic children become clinically tolerant to CM within the first 3 years of life. The mechanisms involved in the achievement of tolerance remain unknown. ObjectiveTo study whether IgE antibodies from children with persistent cow's milk allergy (CMA) differ from children who become clinically tolerant in their ability to recognize linear and conformational epitopes of αs1- and β-casein. MethodsThirty-six milk-allergic children were included in the study: 11 of the children became clinically tolerant, and 25 had persistent CMA. Blood was obtained from all patients during the time they showed clinical reactions to milk challenge. Six non-milk-allergic children served as controls. Specific IgE antibodies against linear (denatured) as well as conformational (native) milk proteins were determined by probing dot-blots with patients' sera. In addition, selected decapeptides from αs1- and β-casein, previously found to be suggestive of persistent CMA, were synthesized on a cellulose-derivatized membrane and probed with individual sera from 10 patients who outgrew CMA and from 10 patients with persistent CMA. ResultsAnalysis of immunodot-blots showed that, in comparison to tolerant patients, milk-allergic children with persistent symptoms had a significantly higher ratio of specific IgE antibodies to linearized than to native α- and β-casein (P < 0.005 and P < 0.02, respectively). Comparing the selected decapeptides, six of the 10 patients with persistent allergy recognized the peptide corresponding to amino acids 69–78 from αs1-casein while none of the patients who outgrew CMA had IgE binding to this epitope. ConclusionPatients with persistent milk allergy possess higher detectable levels of IgE antibodies to linear epitopes from αs1- and β-casein than... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The interaction of the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic gramicidin-S (GrS) with the nonionic detergent octaethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether was studied by NMR spectroscopy. Detergent binding led to a slightly altered average conformation in the D-Phe side chains of the peptide. The changing diamagnetic shielding of nearby protons resulted in chemical shift variations, the largest effect being observed for the D-Phe C[sub a] proton. The continuous upfield shift of this proton resonance, indicating rapid exchange of the peptide between detergent-associated and unassociated states, was employed for an evaluation of the detergent/peptide aggregation equilibria. The nonlinear binding plot thus obtained was attributed to essentially different aggregational states, depending on the detergent/peptide ratio. The almost linear dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate and of the hydrogen-deuterium exchange rate on the fraction of detergent-associated GrS could be reconciled with a simple model, comprising binding of detergent monomers and cooperative binding of micelles at low and high detergent/peptide molar ratios, respectively. Thus, GrS provides a useful model for a study of backbone dynamics and water penetration in detergent and membrane-bound peptides and proteins. The results will also be discussed with reference to the interaction of GrS with biological membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author offers information on an advanced grading system for allergic reactions. He discusses discovery of immunoglobulin E (IgE) that led to the understanding of differentiation between IgE- and non-IgE-mediated allergic reactions, grading allergic symptoms which include allergic reactions from skin and grading anaphylactic reactions which include life-threatening reactions, and key points of an advanced grading system such as suitable for use in daily practice and universally applicable.

Carbon-ion beams are increasingly used in the clinical practice for external radiotherapy treatments of deep-seated tumors. At therapeutic energies, carbon ions yield significant secondary products, including neutrons, which may be of concern for the radiation protection of the patient and personnel. We simulated the neutron yield produced by proton and carbon-ion pencil beams impinging on a clinical phantom at three different angles: 15°, 45° and 90°, with respect to the beam axis. We validated the simulated results using the measured response of organic scintillation detectors. We compared the results obtained with FLUKA 2011.2 and MCNPX 2.7.0 based on three different physics models: Bertini, Isabel, and CEM. Over the different ions, energies, and angles, the FLUKA simulation results agree better with the measured data, compared to the MCNPX results. Simulations of carbon ions at low angles exhibit both the highest deviation from measured data and inter-model discrepancy, which is probably due to the different treatment of the pre-equilibrium stage. The reported neutron yield results could help in the comparison of carbon-ion and proton treatments in terms of secondary neutron production for radiation protection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopy improves the surgical skills of novice surgeons and positively affects the learning curve in experimental settings. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 3D passive polarizing display (3DPPD) and a novel 3D head-mounted display (3DHMD; HMS-3000MT) on the performance of the first laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair by novices and compare both systems with standard high-definition 2D (HD2D) laparoscopy.Methods: Patients with symptomatic inguinal hernia underwent transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach hernia repair using 3DHMD, 3DPPD, or a conventional HD2D laparoscopic system. All surgeries were performed for the first time by three laparoscopically novice surgeons. Operative performance was compared in terms of the time taken for mesh placement and peritoneal suturing under standardized conditions. Additionally, visual perception parameters and adverse effects were assessed.Results: The use of both 3D techniques shortened the time required for mesh placement and peritoneal suturing compared with the conventional HD2D approach. Generally, 3D laparoscopy was superior to HD2D laparoscopy in terms of visual perception parameters such as depth perception, sharpness, ghosting, and contrast. However, compared with the use of HD2D laparoscopy, the use of 3DHMD significantly impaired a surgeon's comfort, with the greatest impairment caused by ear discomfort, headaches, and facial and physical discomforts.Conclusions: The 3DHMD and 3DPPD systems showed clear improvement in first hernia repair laparoscopy by novice surgeons in terms of surgical performance, as well as visual perception; however, the 3DHMD system was not superior to the 3DPPD system. The reduction in training time for new surgeons is obviously advantageous. In this respect, the 3D equipment may be a worthwhile investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decay of a massive pseudoscalar, scalar and U(1) boson into an electron-positron pair in the presence of strong electromagnetic backgrounds is calculated. Of particular interest is the constant-crossed-field limit, relevant for experiments that aim to measure high-energy axion-like-particle conversion into electron-positron pairs in a magnetic field. The total probability depends on the quantum nonlinearity parameter — a product of field and lightfront momentum invariants. Depending on the seed particle mass, different decay regimes are identified. In the below-threshold case, we find the probability depends on a non-perturbative tunneling exponent depending on the quantum parameter and the particle mass. In the above-threshold case, we find that when the quantum parameter is varied linearly, the probability oscillates nonlinearly around the spontaneous decay probability. A strong-field limit is identified in which the threshold is found to disappear. In modelling the fall-off of a quasi-constant-crossed magnetic field, we calculate probabilities beyond the constant limit and investigate when the decay probability can be regarded as locally constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim was to compare the subgingival microbiome composition in samples collected by curettes and paperpoints. Methods: Subgingival plaque of rheumatoid arthritis patients with periodontitis (N=66) or gingivitis (N=15) was collected at two timepoints by sterile curettes and paperpoints. Unused sterile paperpoints were included as controls. The microbial DNA was processed for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The data was processed and clustered into Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and assessed by multivariate analyses. Results: Unused paperpoints showed various levels of DNA contamination. The OTUs specific for unused paperpoints were classified asExiguobacterium, Enterococcus, Methylobacterium, AquabacteriumandPseudomonasand were removed from the dataset. Microbial profiles of curette samples differed significantly from the paperpoint samples (PERMANOVA, p=0.0009, F=3.167). The paperpoint samples had significantly higher proportion of OTUs classified asStreptococcus, Gemella, Parvimonas, Haemophilus, AggregatibacterandClostridialesfamily XIIIincertae sedis(p<0.05). Curette samples harbored higher proportion ofCorynebacterium, Prevotella, Selenomonas, ActinomycesandTreponema(p<0.05). Curette samples had significantly higher species richness (p=0.01) and Shannon Diversity Index (p=0.009) than the paperpoint samples. Conclusions: Different subgingival plaque sampling techniques result in different microbiome profiles. Samples by paperpoints introduce microbial DNA contaminants and show underestimated microbial diversity compared to samples obtained by curettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research on the effect of freezing foods for the skin prick tests outcome. A study is made on freezing fresh foods such as cow's milk and eggs prior to performing skin prick tests is undertaken to compare its reliability as compared against fresh foods. It is found out that freezing foods does not alter their allergenic characters.